Just a thought, but have you considered the impact of an educational environment beyond a child's school years?

An advantage to at least consider: private schools, even in small towns, teach children to navigate challenging social waters with confidence. They also help students focus on admissions to top colleges where these skills become more valuable.

Public school may do the same for many, but I was a shy kid from a working class background who lucked into a (partial) scholarship at a small private school school. My prep school tuition and college loans may have been painful at the time, but now I see they bought more than just a top notch education. They effortlessly opened up a social world that made my adult career goals not just possible, but expected.

Six degrees of separation shrank to one or two. All thanks to private school.